The number 13 has long been considered unlucky in many Western cultures. Even today — in a world far less superstitious than it was in the past — a surprising amount of people have a genuine, deep-rooted fear of the number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia. For this reason, many hotels don’t list the presence of a 13th floor (Otis Elevators reports 85% of its elevator panels omit the number), and many airlines skip row 13. And the more specific yet directly connected fear of Friday the 13th, known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, results in financial losses in excess of $800 million annually in the United States as significant numbers of people avoid traveling, getting married, or even working on the unlucky day.
The building I grew up in didn't have a 13th floor.
What is the source of this superstition?
No one knows for sure and numerous theories have been advanced. Someone I know told me with absolute certitude that he knows - 13 is bar mitzva age and people are afraid of 13 b/c they hate Jews.
A CLASSIC case of a person telling himself a story that he made up and then being convinced it is true. I mean - who knows, maybe that IS the reason. But with nothing to support the theory other than seeing life through the lens of Jewish victimhood - one shouldn't be so SURE of himself. I asked him how he knew and he was like *OF COURSE* that is the reason. [That is not to say that many non-Jews hate Jews. It is just not the explanation for EVERYTHING].
But that is the human animal - we have an innate need to make sense of the world, so we do so with stories that most suit us or for other often unexplicable reasons.
